May 14, 2005
Cutting Deals
Does it get to you when your parents or spouse or sibling or best friend criticizes you?
It gets to me. Know why? Because these are the people who really know you, so when they level criticism it usually comes with a big helping of truth – and the truth can hurt.
It doesn’t mean that they are always right though. You can’t go around letting those close to you run your life. In the end, after listening, you’ve got to make up your own mind and go the way you are going to go.
Which brings me to a recent article by Joel Connelly in the Seattle Times Colonist. You can read his full article on our media site at: http://media.wildernesscommittee.org/news/2005/04/1280.php
Joel rates various environment groups ratings from five trees (very good) to a stump (lousy). Most of the groups he rates are in the U.S Northwest, but he does rate one group north of the border – WCWC.
So far so good, but he only rates WCWC as two crummy trees. Here is what he had to say…
“Western Canada Wilderness Committee: Two trees, others having been chopped down for WCWC's unchanging, newspaper-style broadsides on the latest threatened place in British Columbia.
The once-small committee ballooned to more than 20,000 members during battles over Vancouver Island's Carmanah Valley and Clayoquot Sound.
In tactics, however, it has remained mired in 1960s-style protest. WCWC has never learned how to come in off the picket line and deal.”
Owch, that hurt. Joel really knows his stuff and is the best environment reporter that covers both sides of the 49th. He’s been covering WCWC for years and knows us inside and out.
But on this one Joel is just plain wrong.
In the battle for BC’s remaining wildlands there is a need for dealing and a need for protesting.
A case in point is the recent BC government decision to downsize the South Chilcotin Mountains Park by 20% to appease the mining industry. The government tried to strong arm the environmental groups into going along with their plan saying that if they didn’t “deal” then the government could wipe out the entire park.
A number of groups and activists bought into this. We didn’t.
We continue to work with like minded conservationists and First Nations to defend the protected area and even expand it. By doing so we keep hope alive. And we will succeed too. Just watch us. Check out our campaign page at http://www.wildernesscommittee.org/campaigns/rainforest/interior/chilcotin/
We know that conservation groups are a bit like soccer players. We play our positions. Some are dealers. WCWC is a Hell raiser. We need both kinds of players.
But, Heaven help us if all the enviro groups become dealers, ‘cause we’ll get creamed for sure.
Posted by Joe Foy at May 14, 2005 12:06 PMGrowth, at what cost
I was recently asked by a long time Chemainus resident to walk a 55 acre piece of absolutely beautiful land in Chemainus and I repeat in Chemainus.and I repeat in Chemainus.
This jewel is behind Echo Heights in Channel View Estates. If you drive along Echo Heights to the mail boxes on the left, park and walk up the trail next to the boxes you will enter a beautiful second growth forest that few of us knew existed. This parcel of land is bordered by Plesters Farm on the left and centre left , Porters farm on the centre right and Smiths farm on the right. It was logged originally I think at the turn of the last century or perhaps before. Since then this forest full of fir trees, hemlock, huge maples and arbutus has grown.
The unique growth is what catches your eye immediately. Fallen fir trees have maples growing out of them, massive maples have an entire eco system with ferns and other normal ground plants growing three quarters up there huge trunks.
As you walk along the trails you find an old tree trunk that was recently torn apart by a black bear to get at its bugs for dinner. Wait, what is that sound. It's a woodpecker hammering away at a tree. You look up and it is a Pileated Woodpecker looking for a treat. This woodpecker has only recently been taken off the endangered species list and is the third largest woodpecker in North America. The ivory billed woodpecker which is the largest is now considered extinct. There are woodpecker holes all over the place.
As you walk along you find a pond which is the source of water for the creek that ends up running behind the Saltair Neibourhood Pub and coming out at the ocean next to the old Porters farm. Another trail takes you to a beautiful open meadow surrounded by this is magnificient forest. Next to the meadow is a cliff which due to my fear of heights I stayed away from. I wondered if there were caves and perhaps some ancient history down there.
As I leave this wonderland I am curious.Who owns this property. We do, you and me. It is owned by the District of North Cowichan.
And guess what. While it is not in their five year plan it is known for the right price to a land developer they will sell it to put in 300 homes. Did I mention the water run off right now from this forest onto neighbouring properties is quite abundant. Consider it when no trees are left. Houses do not suck up water.
Did you vote for our mayor and district council to destroy the future forests of Chemainus for the almighty dollar. A few years from now we will regret it if we develop this land. It should be made into a park now. Just think if someone many years ago did not have the forsight to save Stanley Park.
I am asking everyone to visit this forest and then call your council person, the mayor and tell them they have no right to sell this land. It is ours not theirs..
You want my vote this year dear politician MAKE THIS A PARK NOW.
We owe it to our future generations and have no right to destroy it.
Please get involved on this one.
Posted by: Ron Waller on June 12, 2005 06:50 AM